Historical Epochs of the French Revolution | Page 2

the people, was exchanged for familiar
entertainments, which gave rise to frequent jealousies among the nobles,
and tended to lower that sense of awe and respect for royalty among the

people, which in monarchies it is of the utmost importance to preserve.
At this time, also, philosophical discussion had reached its pinnacle of
boldness. Infidelity had woven the web of discord in the human mind,
which was now ripe for experiment, and ROUSSEAU and VOLTAIRE
were the favourite authors.
Previous to the year 1789, from the extreme disorder of the finances, it
became necessary to raise money by extraordinary taxes, which the
common powers of the parliament were deemed insufficient to
authorize; and afraid, in the present temper of the people, to impose
upon them unusual burthens, ministers looked with solicitude for some
other sanctions.
Monsieur DE CALONNE was unwilling to adopt so dangerous an
expedient as that of assembling the states-general; [Footnote: An
Assembly consisting of deputies from the three orders of citizens in
France, namely, the clergy, the nobility, and the tiers-etat; which last
included every French citizen who was not of the clergy or nobility.] he
therefore adopted the expedient of summoning an assembly of notables,
or eminent persons, chosen by the King from the different parts of the
kingdom.
This assembly did not prove so favourable to the measures of the
minister as he expected: Monsieur DE CALONNE was displaced, and
the assembly was soon after dissolved, having declared itself
incompetent to decide on the taxes proposed.
The King then commanded the parliament of Paris to register his edicts
for successive loans to the government; but his commands were
rejected. [Footnote: Chiefly, as it was supposed, through the influence
of the Duke of Orleans.]
In the meantime, that spirit of discussing philosophical subjects, which
we have before mentioned, now fixed itself on politics. The people
exclaimed against the weight of taxes, and the extravagance of courtiers;
they complained of peculiar exemptions from the general burthens, and
of grievances which arose from lettres-de -cachet, and other despotic

powers of the government.
The King, desirous of yielding to the wishes of the people, recalled
Monsieur NECKAR to the administration, and in conformity to his
advice, his Majesty declared his resolution of convening the
states-general. But in order to regulate all matters relative to the
meeting of this important assembly, it was resolved to convoke the
notables a second time. Among these, a diversity of opinion appeared
respecting the comparative number of deputies to be sent by the
Commons, and the two other orders; the cardinal point on which the
whole success of the revolution eventually turned. [Footnote: The last
assembly of the states-general, which had been held in France in 1614,
was composed of 140 deputies from the order of the clergy, among
whom were five cardinals, seven archbishops, and 47 bishops; 132,
representatives of the nobility; and 192 deputies from the commons.
The Cardinal de JOYEUSE was president of the clergy; the Baron
SENECEY of the nobility; and the president of the commons was
ROBERT MIRON, Prêvot-de-Marchands, (an officer similar to that of
mayor of Paris.)] All the classes into which the notables were divided,
decided for an equality of deputies, except those in which MONSIEUR
and the Duke of ORLEANS presided.
In these, it was agreed that the representatives of the commons should
be equal in number to those of the other two states. The ministry were
of opinion that this double representation was adviseable (sic), and
persuaded themselves that, through their weight and influence they
should be able to prevent any mischief to be apprehended from this
preponderance of the tiers-etat. By their advice, the King issued an
ordinance in January 1789, throughout the whole kingdom,
commanding the people to assemble in their bailiwicks, and to
nominate deputies to represent them in the states-general; viz. 300 for
the clergy, 300 for the nobility, and 600 for the commons.
HAC FONTE DERIVATA CLADES.
******
N. B. The first legislature, which was called the National Assembly,

has now the name of the "Constituent Assembly."
The second is called the "Legislative Assembly;" and the third
legislature is called "the National Convention."
[Illustration: Frontispiece--Artillery.jpg]
****** HISTORICAL EPOCHS OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.
******
1787. March. THE Assembly of Notables first convened under the
ministry of Mons. de Calonne, comptroller-general of the finances.
1788. August. Mons. Necker replaced at the head of the finances on the
dismission (sic) of Mons. de Calonne; and Mons. de Lomenie,
archbishop of Toulouse, made prime minister. Nov. Mons. Necker
persuades the King to call the Notables together a second time. 1789.
January. Letters issued in the name of the King for an assembly of the
States-general. The clergy to depute 300 representatives, the nobility
the like number, and the commons 600. May 5. Opening of the
States-general at